Doctrines

Doctrines

Introduction To Christian Doctrines

By Rev. Prasad Mathew

Doctrine is a set of accepted beliefs held by a group. In religion, it is the set of true beliefs that define the parameters of that belief system. Hence, there is true doctrine and false doctrine relative to each belief set. For example, in Christianity, when we talk about God, a true Biblical doctrine is that there is only one God in all existence. If anybody teaches that there are more than one God it is a false doctrine.

Doctrinal theology is the enterprise to construct a coherent system of belief and practice based primarily upon the texts of the Old Testament and the New Testament as well as the historic traditions of the faithful. In this area of study the Christian theologians use biblical exegesis, rationality, analysis, and argument to develop, articulate and make the believers understand, explicate, clarify, examine, critique, defend or promote Christian faith. Doctrinal theology might be undertaken to help the members of the Church better understand Christian tenets, make comparative and analytical study between Christianity and other traditions, Christianity against objections and criticism, facilitate reforms in the Christian church. It also assists in the evangelistic activities of Christianity by providing basic materials for teaching and preaching the faith of the Church. It draws from the resources of the Christian traditions in the past and brings it into the present to help us address some issues in todays life situations or need, or for a variety of other reasons.

In such a situation it is necessary to consider the place of doctrines in the process of the faith formation of a Christian person/ community and thus we have to have a detailed knowledge regarding the doctrines of the Church. So in this article I am trying to enlist the possible influences the doctrines can make in the life of a Christian both in the growing stage and in the practicing stage. Also, I will try to give an outline of the major doctrines in the Church.

A Short Historical Search

In the process of the development, formulation and articulation of the doctrines of the Church, many general councils of the Church met in the past. The Councils of Nicea (325 CE), Constantinople (381 CE), Ephesus (431 CE) were the most important ones in this connection.

The Council of Chalcedon (457 CE) was also very important in this series but not agreed by all Churches. The Mar Thoma Church considers the first three councils as the universally accepted ones and agreed by the undivided Christian Church. Behind each Council there were some false teachings (heresies) brought forwarded by some responsible leaders in the Church, who were otherwise well reputed, popular and useful leaders. There were exchanges of heated arguments, agreements, disagreements etc. as part of the proceedings of the councils. The leaders of the Church have given clarifications regarding the official position of the Church and those who have not agreed to it have been declared as heretics as per the decisions of such councils.

In the course of such councils the arguments and counter arguments led to the condemnation of the other school of thought without considering (in our/ further perspective) whether such actions were right or not. This led to denominational divisions and fractions in the Church, which formed many major ecclesiastical traditions. This doesnt mean that all such efforts of the councils were futile or meaningless. True and genuine leaders of the Church, some of them were considered as the apologists or the defenders of faith, were there in all generations. Such Fathers in the past are remembered with much respect and their teachings are considered as the foundations of the doctrinal theology of the Church.

Why do we study doctrines today in the Church?

Many members of the Church may have the opinion that it is not so necessary and important to learn the doctrines today. Such opinions are raised even in some official fora of the Church by some members who are either ignorant of the importance of such foundations or by some who are not interested to invest their time for such indispensable learning or by some others with some ulterior denominational motives. For some it is very old and irrelevant and they label the learners as conservatives. Some are concerned only about the other worldly life and they do not consider anything in this world, even the Church and its teachings, as important for Christian life.

Some may find it difficult when some others are concerned only on those things which fetch them immediate material or monetary benefit. Some others are so particular in learning and observing even the minute details and any deviation from such doctrinal discipline would make them so uncomfortable, concerned and anxious of losing the authenticity and relevance of the existence of the Church today.

It is very important to teach the basic foundations of our faith to the younger members of the Church through Sunday School curricula and youth Bible studies. Also there must be different fora for the people of all age groups, according to their level of intellectual and comprehensive ability to have on-going discussions and updated learning of such doctrines. It is especially important in a diaspora context where the members are otherwise busy with their livelihood prospects and are not so regularly available for learning in the Church.

Basic doctrines of the Church

Doctrine of God/ Faith in God

God is our Creator

God is our Sustainer

God is our Redeemer

Transcendence and Immanence of God

Personhood of God/ God as Person

The Power of God

Different Attributes/ Characters/ Gunas of God

Love (agape - in GK) and loving kindness (chesed - in HB)

Reason/ Intelligence

Holiness

Patience and forgiveness

Justice and fairness

Judgement

Doctrine of Christ/ Christology

The Revelation of God/ The revealed God/ The Incarnated God

God the Son - Co-essential, Co-equal and Co-eternal with the Father

Co-creator - in and through him

Fully Devine and fully Human

Born but not made/ created

The earthly life of Christ - The Supreme example/ model of a human being/ or lived just like a common human being

Sinlessness of Christ

The Baptism of Christ

The temptations of Christ

Transfiguration of Christ

The Passion and Death of Christ

The Resurrection of Christ

Different Attributes/ Characters/ Gunas of God

Jesus of Nazareth

Son Of Man

Son of God

Messiah

Lord

Christ

Son of David

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit/ Pneumatology

Holy Spirit as the third Person in Trinity/ Holy Spirit as God

Co-creator - brooding over the waters

Holy Spirit and the interpreter of God and Chris

Holy Spirit as the Comforter/ Counsellor and Guide/ the present day feeling presence of God among the people of God

The Procession of the Holy Spirit - In the Old Testament and in the New Testament

The Single Procession and the Double Precession

The work of the Holy Spirit

Giving as awareness about sin, justice and judgement

Guiding us to all Truth/ New meanings of the Truth

Unitive Being and the unifying Being

Helps us to grow and live daily in faith

The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity

Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are ONE God but THREE expressions of the same God

Co-essential, Co-equal and Co-eternal

The Community in Trinity - the model for our communities

The Doctrine of Creation

It is the basic assertion of the relationship of God to the World and the relation of Human to God and to the World

Biblical testimony –

Genesis 1 & 2;

The two accounts of creation; differences between the two

Created out of nothing (Creatio-ex-nihilo)

Sharing of Gods Being/ Life with the Creation

Creation and Science

Continuing Creation

The Doctrine of Human

Created in the Image of God (Imago-Dei)/ in the likeness of God

Humans - finite and limited being (God is infinite and unlimited)

Human - dependent being (God is independent)

Contingent/ temporal being

Fellowship (koinonia) with God in the beginning

Sinful nature of human after the fall

New Humanity in Christ

The Doctrine of Sin

The Biblical View (Gen. 3)

Sin is disobedience to God / rebellion against God

Sin is something that involves our whole personality

The Doctrine of Evil

The Biblical view

Sin is related to evil/ Evil is a direct consequence to human sin

Evil in the nature is not directly connected to human sinfulness - but there are human made natural problems

The Problem of Evil

The Doctrine of the Church/ Ecclesiology

The called out Community (ecclesia - in GK and Qahal - in HB)

The origin of the Church - from the beginning, from creation

The Church and the world - called out from the World but to be in the world (In the world but different from the world; for the world not of the world)

Church is the New Creation in Christ

Church is the New Community of Incarnation

The Church recognizes the incarnation of Christ

The Church witnesses to the Christ event and

The Church is the just successor of Christ (the incarnated God)

The Church and the Kingdom of God

Church is the replica or the visible example and expression of the Kingdom

Church is not the Kingdom but Church is in the Kingdom

The Visible Church and the invisible Church

The four attributes of the Church in the Nicene Creed

One;

Holy;

Catholic;

Apostolic

The two natures of the Church

Gathered Church

Dispersed Church

Mission of the Church

Mission of God (Miisio-Dei)

The Great Commission: Matthew 28: 19-20

As Father has sent me, even so I send you

The Sacraments in the Church

Sacraments are the visible/ external expressions of the invisible/ internal spiritual experiences

Sacraments are the means of Grace

Sacraments are the means of relationship with fellow believers

Sacraments are the daily expressions of faith in practical life

Sacraments are the affirmations of the Church to uphold and continue its faith

Sacraments are the cultural and Cultic expressions of the faith of the Church

Sacraments become meaningful and relevant in the community of believers and in the worship experience of the Church

There are seven recognized/ accepted/ official Sacraments in the Church

Holy Baptism

Confirmation

Confession

Holy Communion

Holy Matrimony

Holy Ordination

Extreme Unction/ Anointing with the Holy Oil (Thailabhishekam in Malayalam)

The Doctrine of Salvation

The Saving/ redemptive Act of God in the divine plan and purpose

The Salvation History

Christ died for Saving the Whole Creation

Forgiveness of Sin and lifting up to eternal life

Life through death

Cross the symbol of Salvation

The Gospel of Salvation the message/ preaching of the Church/ Preaching the Christ crucified